Balkanization

Meaning

1. (countable, historical, uncountable) The fragmentation of a geopolitical region into several small states that are often hostile or non-cooperative with each other.
2. (broadly, countable, informal, uncountable) Any disintegration or fragmentation process.

Synonyms

Balkanisation

Balkanisation

Translations

balkanisation

Balkanisierung

balcanització

balcanización

βαλκανοποίηση

balcanizzazione

balcanização

balkanisering

بَلْقَنَة

Zerfall

بلقن

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌbɔːl.kən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

Etymology

From Balkan + -ization. The term is a reference to the conflicts that the Balkan peninsula experienced in the 20th century.